MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department is offering daytime ballroom dancing this fall for the first time at Pruzin Community Center, 5750 Tyler Place.

Participants will learn dances such as the tango, waltz and rumba during the six-week course starting Oct. 1. The class meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, and the deadline to register is Sept. 24, Recreation Supervisor Caryn Wilson said.

There is also evening ballroom dancing starting Sept. 24, Wilson said. The class meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, and the course also lasts six weeks. The deadline to register is Sept. 17.

Both ballroom dancing courses cost $40 for residents and $45 for nonresidents, but couples looking to take the course together will be charged $70 if they are residents and $80 if they are nonresidents.

The parks department also offers various programs that are free, Wilson said.

Starting Sept. 2, residents 50 and older can take part in a free aerobics course from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. Proof of residency is required to take part in the program.

Contact the Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department at (219) 980-5911 for more information and to register for the programs.